Roller skate with toe stop support



Oct. 4, 1955 G. K. WARE 2,719,723

ROLLER SKATE WITH TOE STOP SUPPORT Filed April 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. flwr e Oct. 4, 1955 G. K. WARE 2,719,723

ROLLER SKATE WITH TOE STOP SUPPORT Filed April 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 64 ./L//L WWWHHI. v f L F6 65 "HM" I United States Patent -2,'719,72s ROLLER SKATE wnir-ToEsToP sUrPoRT Gordon K. Ware, Chicago, ill., assignor to Chicago Roller Skate Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Arizona Application April 28,1952, Serial No. 284,685 4' Claims. term-11:2

This invention relates to roller skates, and concerns particularly skates of the rink type.

Rink type skates, commonly used for indoor and dance skating, conventionally "are provided with wood or fiber wheels supported from the-sole plate by ineans of a wheel support assembly which permits 'al'imited degree or flexibility or actiOn betWeen-the'wheel'axles and the sole plate or skate'frame structure. While'a limiteddegree of flexibility or actionis necessar'y, -it is desirable that this be achieved without 'afeeling'bf loosen'ess" in the support unit,or undue "fragility 'o'f the parts. other words, the desired action contemplates a controlled degree of motion,without -a senseofloosehess andwithout actual structuralweakness or undue bul'k'in' th'e parts.

Skates Of this t pea're also "frequentlyprqvide'd 'With toe stops or brakeniernbeis, by"means 'of which the user may advantageously perfor'rnvariou's dance-stepsfand like skating operations. v

It is 'an object of the present-invention'to'proviae an improved skate structure, of the r'ink typ'e, having'a'n improved wheel support iin'it or 'a's's'einbly. I

More specifically state 'is an 'objectfof the inverrtien to provide a skatestriictureof tliefo'r' typefli'avin'g an improved arrangement of "when support unit paits so as to provide a proper coiitiolled degre of anteater the 'wheel truck, but without iinduedbosenessffi agility, or'bulk'o'f'theparts. V

More specifically statedfit is ah obi t of the iiivntion to providean iinp'rov'e'c'fivheej ii or't uilit supported essentially "by' means of iiiibber b'locks, while at the same time providing a ireeessar' aiid teper aegree of action, with accompanying e'n'g't'h"and rigidity togive a proper feel to the user in 'the'iopei'atio 'of tlie' 'sk'ate.

A further object of the invention is provide, in'a skate structure of the foregoing type,'an-inipr'oved arrangement for a toe stop.

Various other objects, a'diia'ntages, *ahd riiore'fspe'cific features of the structure will be apparent from the following specification, when taken in connection with "the accompanying drawings,'wherein one preferred'enibodiment of the invention is set forth'ffor'puiposes'of illustration.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly 'view of a 'skatestructure constructed in accordance with -andembodying the principles -of the present invention,in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view ofthe hang'e'r biacket and toestop assembly;

Fig.3 is'avertical sectional view ofthe skates'truc'ture, taken "as indicated by the line 33 of*Fig. l, 'n'iore*particularly sho'win g the front wheel support-unit tar-assembly;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. -3, but"showing tl'ie parts in a different position; d d

Figi'S is an exploded perspectivevi'ew more partic'iilarly illustrating the parts forming the wheel support unit;

Fig. 6 is a plan section of the wheel truck member;

ice

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the skate structure of Fig. -1, on an enlarged scale, andmore particularly illustrating the front wheel support unit and associated toe stop structure;

Fig. 8 is a broken plan section of the structure of Fig. 7 on the line 88 thereof; and d Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the brace bar optionally but preferably forming a part of the skate structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, therink skate'illustrated comprises a sole plate 1 0 to which'a shoe or the like (not shown) may be secured; the sole plate beingprovided at its opposite ends with front and rear wheel support units or assemblies, as respectively indiahanger bracket 16, riveted or otherwise secured to the sole plate, this hanger bracket having a forwardbosslB and a rear boss 20, asis best shown in Fig. 7.

The rear boss is threaded to provide support for 'a kingpin or action screw 22-threadedly received therein.

This action screw is locked in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 24, a springretaining washer 26 being-provided to retain the lock nut from inadvertent loosening. The brace bar 28 is interposed between the washer 26 and the hanger boss 20, being thereby held firmly in position. As best shown in Fig. 9, thisbrace bar is preferably channel-shapedin cross section alongits main body portion, and is provided atits opposite ends with 'slightly upturned platform portions 30 and 3 2 to receive the respective shanks of the action screws. Thechannellike brace bar provides a maximum reinforcement to the sole plate, for rigidity in maintaining-the alignment of the hangers, with -a minimum of weight. U Referring further to Fig. 7, and to the exploded view, Fig. 5, it will be seen that the action screw is headed at its lower end, as indicated at 34, and is embraced by a :pair of rubber washers or cushion members 36 and 38,

of substantially equal size. The upperface of thecu'shio'n 36 and the lower face of the cushion 38 are confined by substantially identical metallic flanged washers and 42, as shown. v

, Interposed between the cushions 36 and 38 is the platform portion 44 of the front wheel truck 46. As

best shown in Fig. 5, the wheel truck is provided'with oppositely projecting bosses to support the wheel axle, and in addition to the -platf0rm..portion 44, with an upstanding strut arm 48, theupper end of which terminates in a ball or spherical .portion 50. In Fig.7 the manner in-which the truck supports the wheels is indicate'dfthe 'wheel'axle being shown at-:52, and one ofthewheels being shown at 54. The ball 5 0 has universal ball and socket connection with the hanger boss1 8,- as alsobe'st shown in Fig. 7.

*Par-ticularattention is directed tof the disposition and manner of cooperation between the .platformQportion 4'4 ofthewheel truck, andthe associated action-screwand "rubber cushion members.

Asbestshown in Fig. 6, it will be seen that'the'whe el truckplatform 44* is .provided with an ovalor elongated opening -56 having a length of -predetermined greater extent, and a width offpredetermined lesser extent, in reference to the size of the shank of the action screw.

As will be seen by'acomparison of Figs. 3--and 4, in the -use *of the-skatey-the kingpin is tilted respectltoj the rnaintained horizontal dispositionof the wheel tru'clc platform, as for example when turns arid the like are being executed. However, this tilting is merely a pivoting action between the action screw and the wheel truck, within the range of the clearance provided between the action screw shank and the lesser dimension of the truck platform opening 56.

As the wheels receive the weight of the skater, and particularly when executing jumps or the like, the wheel truck exhibits a turning motion about the ball 50, as indicated by the arrowed line 58 in Fig. 7. This turning movement, or pivotal shifting of the wheel truck in respect to the hanger, is accommodated in the structure provided by the clearance between the action screw shank and the platform opening 56, along the greater or major dimension thereof; thus permitting a degree of motion of the wheel truck about the ball 50.

Both the tilting of the kingpin, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and the bodily pivotal shifting thereof in respect to the hanger, as described in reference to Fig. 7, are under the control of the rubber cushion members 36 and 38, the compressibility of which is in turn controlled by the character of the rubber or like material used, and also by the threaded adjustment of the kingpin within the hanger boss 20. Thus a shortening of the effective length of the kingpin results in a corresponding compression of the rubber cushions, providing a more firm action control, to the requirements of the particular user of the skate.

As further indicated by Figs. 5 and 7, the adjacent faces of the rubber cushions 36 and 38 are confined by means of flanges 60 and 62 provided on the opposite faces of the wheel truck platform.

The toe stop, generally indicated by the reference numeral 64 is formed, in the construction illustrated, by an extension 66 of the hanger 16, to the downwardly and forwardly projecting end of which is secured a toe stop member 68, preferably of rubber or the like. As best shown in Fig. 7, the toe block is secured in position by means of a screw 70, the head of which is embedded into the rubber body, and the block is preferably shaped to provide a dished floor engagement face 72.

The provision of the toe stop support, as an integral part of the front hanger bracket 16, which hanger bracket is in turn rigidified and maintained in position by the sole plate and the brace bar 28, ensures a firm and solid support for the toe stop, without undue bulk or weight of the parts, while at the same time permitting the toe stop support to be projected sufficiently forwardly and downwardly in respect to the sole plate and the shoe supported thereby, so as to facilitate proper use.

As previously stated, the rear and front wheel support units may be similarly formed, except that the rear i hanger bracket, as shown at '74 in Fig. 1, does not support a toe stop, and is of plate-like construction, or reduced thickness, between its boss support parts 76 and 78.

It will be seen that the wheel support units provide an all rubber connection between the wheel truck and the kingpin, avoiding metal to metal contact in normal operation. This is accomplished while permitting proper action between the parts, due to the oval platform opening 56, both to accommodate tilting movements of the wheel truck and also pivotal shifting thereof about the ball 50. Such pivotal shifting is accommodated by the flexing of the cushion members 36 and 38, enabling the use of a rigid truck arm 48 for improved strength and simplicity in the parts. The upward disposition of the truck platform portion 44, in respect to the positioning of the axle 52, permits an equal sizing of the cushion members 36 and 38 to provide a balanced action; such upward disposition of the wheel truck platform also permitting longer use of the wheels 54 as they are reduced in size due to wear. The upward disposition of the platform also minimizes its twisting moment upon the kingpin, to minimize possibility of breakage. The faces of the cushion members 36 and 38 are confined by the washers 40 and 42, and by the flanges 60 and 62 of the wheel truck plat- 4 form, insuring proper action of the cushion members as the wheel truck shifts in the manner heretofore described. 1

The toe stop, constituting an integral extension of the hanger 16, to which the kingpin 22 is in turn rigidly I secured, provides a firm support for the toe stop notwithstanding its disposition well forwardly and downwardly with respect to the front wheels. The arrangement thus provided for the toe stop, including the rigidly mounted kingpins, together with the brace bar 28, insures a rigid structure with a minimum of size and weight in the parts.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A roller skate comprising a sole plate, a hanger bracket secured thereto, said bracket being provided at one end thereof with a mounting portion extending beyond the forward end of the sole plate, a stop member of compressible material secured to said hanger bracket mounting portion, said stop member lying substantially entirely beyond the limits of the sole plate, an action screw anchored to the hanger bracket adjacent the end thereof remote from the stop member, a wheel truck carried by the action screw, and a support arm connected at one end of the wheel truck and connected at its other end with the hanger bracket at a position thereon between the action screw and said stop member.

2. A wheel support and stop unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said hanger bracket is of general channel shape, there being a pair of bosses formed on the bracket for connection, respectively, with the action screw and said truck support arm.

3. A wheel support and stop unit for roller skates comprising a hanger bracket, said bracket being provided at one end thereof with an extending mounting portion for projecting forwardly beyond a sole plate of a skate, a

stop member of compressible material secured to said hanger bracket mounting portion, an action screw anchored to the hanger bracket adjacent the opposite end thereof, a wheel truck having a perforated platform through which the action screw projects, a pair of cushion members of compressible material embracing the action screw and engageable with the wheel truck platform portion on the opposite sides thereof, and a support arm connected at one end to the wheel truck and connected at its other end with the hanger bracket at a position thereon between the action screw and said stop member.

4. A wheel support and stop unit for roller skates, as defined in claim 3, wherein the opening in the wheel truck platform portion through which the action screw extends is oval in shape with its major dimension lying substantially in the plane of the major length of the hanger bracket, said opening having a minor dimension only slightly greater than the diameter of said action screw, and said opening having substantially uniform dimensions at opposite sides of the wheel truck platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

